Automatic sheet material transport machine

ABSTRACT

The present machine employs a plurality of perforated plates which are disposed in pairs so that each pair defines a channel therebetween. The channels, when considered together, form a transport path along which film (or paper or webbing of some kind) is moved to be processed (or otherwise treated). Each of the plates, of a pair of plates which forms a channel, is incrementally moved along the forward direction of the transport path and rapidly returned along the reverse direction of the transport path. The plates, forming a channel, are moved out of phase with each other but in phase with selected other plates along the path. The arrangement of plates is held in a tank of fluid (or tanks of fluid) which is to be applied to the film (or paper) and the fluid is moved transversely with respect to, and in synchronism with, the plates so that the film is always held against a plate which is experiencing the forward movement. Hence the film is carried forward along the transport path through the fluid. The tank employs a shroud arrangement to prevent undesirable currents in the fluid. In addition the system employs a feed mechanism to feed the film or material into the system in synchronism with the movement of the plates.

United States Patent [191 Tobias 1 Feb. 20, 1973 i [54] AUTOMATIQSHEET MATERIAL TRANSPORT MACHINE [76} Inventor: Philip E. Tobias, 1872 Watson Road, Abington, Pa. 19001 [22] Filed: Aug. 20, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 173,573

Primary Examiner-Robert L. Bleutge Attorney-William E. Cleaver DRIVE HOUSING 6o 52 ABSTRACT The present machine employs a plurality of perforated plates which are disposed in pairs so that each pair defines a channel therebetween. The channels, when considered together, form a transport path along which film (or paper or webbing of some kind) is moved to be processed (or otherwise treated). Each of the plates, of a pair of plates which forms a channel, is incrementally moved along the forward direction of the transport path and rapidly returned along the reverse direction of the transport path. The plates, forming a channel, are moved out of phase with each other but in phase with selected other plates along the path. The arrangement of plates is held in a tank of fluid (or tanks of fluid) which is to be applied to the film (or paper) and the fluid is moved transversely with respect to, and in synchronism with, the plates so that the film is always held against a plate which is experiencing the forward movement. Hence the film is carried forward along the transport path through the fluid. The tank employs a shroud arrangement to prevent undesirable currents in the fluid. In addition the system employs a feed mechanism to feed the film or material into the system in synchronism with the movement of the plates.

11 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEB 2 01975 SHEET 1 0F 2 C ,m I B utm n A INVENTOR.

PHILIP E. TOBIAS ATTORNEY.

PATENTEI] FEB 2 0 I373 SHEETEDF 2 DRIVE HOUSING 6O 52 INVENTOR.

PHILIP ETOBIAS ATTORNEY.

AUTOMATIC SHEET MATERIAL TRANSPORT MACHINE BACKGROUND Ordinarily film is processed by initially developing the same, then fixing it, washing it, and ultimately drying it. Of all of these reactions, the development of the film is by far the most critical since the results are in turn greatly affected by agitation, temperature of the developer, depletion of the developer, and time of immersion, etc. In the prior art a number of automatic processors have been developed and in general their construction is in accordance with a similar pattern. In such automatic processors, it has been the practice to pass the film or paper between immersed pairs of rollers which are arranged so that the film passes down through the tank, is turned by a 180 wire baffle, or some other turnaround device, and then passed up through the solution on another set of rollers. Such systems very often employ a number of 180 baffles or similar turnaround devices at the end of an excursion through a single tank so as to pass the film from one tank to another and ultimately through a dryer of some type.

In such prior art devices, the pairs of rollers are spaced relatively close together and normally in the order of 1 inch or 2 inch on centers. Accordingly, in a prior art automatic film processing tank which might be 30 inches deep there would be several dozen pairs of rollers. The rollers not only transport film but also apply a certain degree of agitation to the developer, or other chemicals, which are held in the tank for the purpose of coming in contact with the film emulsion. While it has been the practice ordinarily to have pairs of rollers as just mentioned there have been some attempts to use belts in place of the rollers. When belts have been employed there have been problems with respect to keeping such belts clean and finding proper materials for fabrication of the belts which would not be harmed by the chemicals used in the tank. In any event, the automatic processors using the rollers and/or the belts have generally been devices which are expensive to build because of the multiplicity of parts. In addition it has been determined that in both of these arrangements the film development has often been of poor quality. For instance, it has Very often been the case that these prior art processors have scratched or scored the film because of the multiplicity of hard surfaces against which the film is squeezed and further because the arrangements have been difficult to maintain and clean.

SUMMARY In the present invention there is employed a combination transport and agitation system which is relatively simple by comparison with the prior art devices and which provides high quality results in development of the film because of the nature of the transport system itself. In the present device a plurality of perforated plates are arranged in pairs with each pair forming a channel therebetween. The plates are separated by approximately ,6 of an inch in a preferred embodiment. Each of the perforated plates is arranged to rise and fall a given amplitude and is driven in this rise and fall pattern such that the plates of a given pair are out of phase with each other. While the plates will be traveling in the same direction for at least part of the time together, one of the plates will be leading the other and before the lead plate has reached the end of its travel the film is transferred by the movement of the fluid in the tank, to the other plate (first follow plate) so that the lead plate can be returned to its start position and commence the same forward travel only now assuming the role of the follow plate. In like manner before the first follow plate reaches the full length of its excursion, the film is transfered to the former lead plate (which is now the follow plate) thereby allowing the first follow plate to be returned to its start position, etc.

In one embodiment there is employed a center baffle which is moved in a metronome fashion, there is, from side to side but in synchronism with the vertical movement of the plates. In accordance with the movement of the center bafile and the plates, the fluid held by the tank will move the film from one plate to the other plate (of a pair) as just described above. Hence in effect the film is transported forward in accordance with the plate which is moving in the forward direction along its transport path. While in said preferred embodiment the fluid is effectively moved by the movement of the center baffle as will be mentioned hereinafter other arrangements may be effectively employed for moving the fluid or for transferring the film by moving the plates relative to the fluid.

There is a second pair of plates which provides the second half of the forward transport of the film which is out of phase with the first half of the forward transport. For instance, if the first half of the forward transport is directed down into the tank then the second half of the forward transport is directed out of the tank. These third and fourth plates (making up the second pair) operate respectively 180 out of phase with the first and second plates so that if,for instance, the first plate is being moved in a forward direction, the third plate also is being moved in the forward direction (however the third plate is moving 180 out of phase with the first plate) on the return side of a transport path thereby enabling the film to be transported through (i.e., into and out of) the fluid in which it is being immersed. This will become more readily understood in the following description.

Since the movement of fluid through the plates tends to develop currents which flow parallel to the plates which would be disruptive to a preferred transfer action (i.e., from one plate to another) there is a shroud employed to confine the fluid and hence mitigate the effects of parallel currents. In addition the present system has a feed roller arrangement (for initially entering sheets) which moves in synchronism with the forward linear movement of the plates.

Further, the device also employs a turnaround or 180 bafile means coupling one channel with another FIG. 2 is a partial pictorial schematic very much enlarged showing the 180 baffle employed with two pairs of plates;

FIG. 3 is an end view schematic of two pairs of plates held in a tank showing the relationship between the movements of the various parts of the machine;

FIG. 6 is a schematic depicting the fluid tank with the shroud and the center baffle employed;

FIG. 5 shows an end plate of the shroud;

FIG. 6 is a pictorial schematic showing a drive mechanism to accomplish an incremental drive and a changeable stroke; and

H6. '7 depicts the elements of the feed mechanism.

Consider H6. 1 wherein there is shown four perforated plates l1, l2, l3 and 14. It should be understood that the plates are entirely perforated although in FIG. 1 they are simply shown with some holes to indicate that the plates indeed do have holes therein but the plate is not shown entirely perforated for the purpose of making the description, insofar as the drawings are concerned, simplified. It should also be understood that the device shown in FIG. 1 does not include the tank which surrounds the plates, or the front portion of the drive mechanism, or the turnaround baffle, all of which devices are included in the present machine and which will be shown in some detail hereinafter.

In accordance with the description, above, in FIG. 1 the plate ill is moving in the forward direction toward the bottom of the figure (which would be the bottom of the tank) while the plate 13 is moving in the forward direction toward the top of the figure (toward the top of the tank). The manner in which this is accomplished is by having the rocker arm 15 mounted on a stud 16 which in turn is mounted to a fixed wall or fixed structure. Neither the wall nor the fixed structure is shown in the figure but such an arrangement is well understood by those skilled in the art. The rocker arm 15 is coupled by a stud 17 to the drive rod 18. The drive rod 18 passes through a sleeve 19 which is also mounted on a fixed wall or fixed structure. Within the sleeve 19 there is housed a spring which is connected to the sleeve 19 and to the drive rod 18 so as to spring drive the rod 18 in the direction of the arrow 20. Further mounted on the drive rod 18 is the cam follower 21, Since the rod 18 is spring-loaded within the sleeve 19 the cam follower 21 in fact follows the cam 22 as the cam 22 is rotated in accordance with the arrow 23. It will be noted in the circumstances shown in FIG. 1 that the cam follower 21 is at, or approximately at, the furthermost point of the excursion around the cam 22. Hence the drive rod 18 is driven to the furthermost right-hand position of its movement. Accordingly, the rocker arm 15 has been partially rotated in a counter-clockwise direction thereby lowering the plate 11 by virtue of the rod 24 and lifting the plate 13 by virtue of the rod 25.

In order to accomplish a similar movement for the plates 12 and 14 there is shown in FIG. 1 a rocker arm 26 which is mounted for partial rotation on the stud 27. The stud 27 is mounted in a fixed wall or a fixed structure of some type. The rocker arm 26 is further coupled to the drive rod 28 by virtue of the stud 29. Accordingly, as the drive rod 28 is moved left and right, the rocker arm 26 is respectively moved in a counterclockwise direction and returned in a clockwise direction.

The drive rod 28 passes through the sleeve 30. The sleeve 3% is mounted to a fixed wall and has a spring therein which is attached to the drive rod 28 in such a way as to spring-load the drive rod 28 in the direction of the arrow 31. Further mounted to the drive rod 28 is a cam follower 32 and since the drive rod 28 is springloaded to be moved in the direction of the arrow 31 the cam follower 32 follows the cam 22 as it is rotated.

It can be readily understood by observation of FIG. I that as the cam 22 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 23, the drive rod 28 will be making a leftward movement and hence the rocker arm 26 will be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction thereby lowering the plate 12 by virtue of the rod 33 and raising the plate 14 by virtue of the rod 34. It also should be recognized by observation that the cam follower 32 has started its excursion around the cam 22 and hence the rocker arm 26 has been partially rotated in a counter-clockwise direction and therefore the plate 12 has started its downward travel and the plate 14 has started its upward travel.

On the front side of the plates 11, 12, 13 and 14 there may be used four rods 35. The four rods 35 are the counterparts of the rods 24, 25, 33 and 34 and are connected to similar rocker arm devices which operate in the same way as do the rocker arms 15 and 26 and accordingly there is support given to the front end of the plates to efiect the lifting thereof. The system can be operated without the rods 35.

It should also be recognized from observation of FIG. 1 that when the cam follower 21 passes over the high point of the cam 22 and is returned to the low point position 36 of the cam 22, the drive rod 18 will experience a leftward movement and accordingly the rocker arm 15 will experience a partial clockwise rotation. When the rocker arm 15 goes through said partial clockwise rotation, the plate 11 is returned to its starting position, i.e., the most upward position in the tank and the plate 13 is returned to its starting position, i.e., the most downward position in the tank. When the cam 22 has been rotated far enough in the clockwise direction so that the cam follower 32 moves into the position 36 then the drive rod 28 experiences a full.

rightward movement thereby rotating the rocker arm 26 in a clockwise direction which returns the plate 12 to its starting position, i.e., the most upward position in the tank and returns the plate 14 to its starting position which is the most downward position in the tank.

As stated earlier when one of the plates is making a forward movement along the transport path of the film (which in this case would be downward between the plates 1 1 and 12 and upward between the plates 13 and 14) this plate will have the film forced thereagainst by the movement of the fluid in the tank. Accordingly, it

becomes apparent why the plates must be perforated.

of plates which are beginning to experience a somewhat linear or incremental excursion along the forward direction of the transport path. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, the film would have been transferred or moved against the plates 12 and 14 because these plates are respectively experiencing the movement downward in the forward direction for the first half and upward in the forward direction for the second half.

Once the film has left the channel between the plates 11 and 12 it must .be turned around and fed into the channel lying between the plates 13 and 14. The mechanism for accomplishing this turnaround is shown in FIG. 2.

IN FIG. 2 we find an enlarged view of a small portion of the plates 11, 12, 13 and 14. The plates 11, 12, 13 and 14 in FIG. 2 are shown relatively equal in position which is somewhat different from the way the plates are shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The reason that the plates are shown in relatively equal positions is to be able to illustrate clearly the arrangement of the turnaround mechanism with respect to the plates. Accordingly, the positions of the plates 11, 12, 13 and 14 as shown in FIG. 2 are not intended to be the positions of the plates as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

In FIG. 2 there is shown a turnaround mechanism or turn-around baffle 38. In the preferred embodiment the turnaround device 38 is a cradle of rods which are secured together in the fashion shown in FIG. 2. It will be noted that there are a number of U-shaped rods such as the rods 39 and 40 and a number of inner U-shaped rods such as the rods 41 and 42. It should be understood that there would be a plurality of such rods located rearward of rod 40 (extending upward to the left in the figure) but only two of such rods are shown for purposes of keeping the drawings somewhat simplified.

' At the upper end of the rods 39 and 40 it will be noted that the rods are formed to bend outward beyond the leftward-most surface of the plate 11 and similarly beyond the rightward-most surface of the plate 14. It will also be noted that these turned out ends fit into the respective slots 43, 44 and 45. The slots 43, 44 and 45 can also be seen in FIG. 1. It will be noted that in FIG. 1 there are many other slots along the lower edge of the plate 11 and this configuration is also true of each of the other plates although it cannot be seen in any other figures. It should be apparent that when the plate 11 moves downward, the slots 43 and 44 pass over the turned-out ends of the rods 39 and 40 and hence if the film is riding against the plate it is gently lifted or cammed into the turnaround device 38. By inspection it can b seen that the inner rods 42 and 41 also have their upper ends turned beyond the surfaces of the plates they engage and hence if the film is lying against either of the plates 12 or 13 it will be gently lifted into the turnaround device or from the turnaround device as the case may be.

FIG. 3 shows a sectionalized schematic end view of the arrangement. In FIG. 3 the drive mechanism including the cam 22 and the cam followers 21 and 32, as described in FIG. 1 (or the arrangement as shown in FIG. 6), are held in the drive housing 47. The drive rods 18 and 28, the rocker arms 15 and 26, the rods 24, 25, 33 and 34, the plates 11, 12, 13 and 14, as well as the turnaround baffle 38 are the same devices as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and operate together as described above in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2.

In addition in FIG. 3 there is shown a tank 48 which holds a fluid 49. It will be noted that the tank 48 is connected by rod 60 to a mechanism within the drive housing 47. The tank is driven rightward and leftward, as indicated by the arrows 50. It will be recalled that the fluid 49 is moved by the movement of the tank 48 so that the fluid will pass through the holes of the plates 11, 12, 13 and 14, whereat it is possible to do so, in order to force the film (or webbing or the like) against a plate making a forward excursion. In FIG. 3 the tank 48 is moving rightward thereby forcing the fluid 49 toward the right to hold the film 51 against plates 12 and 14. It will also be recalled that plates 12 and 14 are commencing their forward excursion. Hence the film 51 is being carried downward into the tank by the plate 12 and upward out of the tank by the plate 14. Sometime prior to the cam follower 32 (see FIG. 1) moving into the low position 36 of cam 22, the tank 48 will be reversed and the fluid driven leftward. Accordingly the film 51 will be forced against the plates 11 and 13. The plates 11 and 13 will have commenced their forward movement prior to the reversal of the tank 48. Even though the film 51 is now being carried by the plates 11 and 13, the film 51 will continue in its movement into and out of the tank 48. The operation is repeated by reversing the tank 48 and hence reversing the movement of the fluid 49 to the right after the plates 12 and 14 have commenced their forward movement.

Also in FIG. 3 there is shown in phantom a baffle agitator 52. The baffle agitator 52 includes two baffles 53 and 54. The baffles 53 and 54 have few or no holes in them in contrast to the plates 11, 12, 13 and 14. When the baffle agitator is employed, the tank 48 is held stationary, i.e., it is not coupled to be moved. Instead the baffle agitator 52 is moved rightward and leftward to cause the fluid to be moved in response to such agitation. The moving fluid holds the film against the proper plates as described above. The baffle agitator 52 has the same synchronized movement as described above for the tank 48. Also shown in FIg. 3, in phantom, is a center baffle 55 shown connected to the phantom rod 60. It should be understood that the center baffle 55 would be moved with the same synchronized movement as the tank 48, but tank 48 would be held stationary. The use of the center baffle is the preferred embodiment but the movable tank, or two outside baffles or other arrangements of moving the liquid can be employed. In one other arrangement the plates are moved to the right and to the left to effect a relative movement of the fluid although the fluid remains substantially stationary.

It has been determined empirically that as the fluid 49 is moved through the plates 11, 12, 13 and 14 there are currents developed which move parallel to the plates. Such currents of course produce pressure differentials which tend to hinder or disrupt a sharp transfer of the film from one plate to the other of a pair. Accordingly, I have found that if the center baffle is surrounded by a shroud, the fluid will be forced through the plates thus mitigating the effect of the parallel currents and providing a sharp transfer of the film.

The shroud arrangement is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In FIG. 4 the plates Ill, l2, l3 and 14 are shown somewhat modified, in that they are shown with bent upper sections to enable an easy insertion of the film. In H6. 4 there is depicted a center baffle 55 which is moved transverse to the plates ll, 12, 13 and 14 (right and left in FIG. 4). Y

The movement of the center baffle 55 can be accomplished by a linkage of rods as shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5 the center baffle 55 is shown in dashed lines because it is located behind the end plate 56 of the shroud. In the end plate 56 there are cut two slots 57 and 58. Through these slots the center baffle 55 is rigidly connected to the rods 59 and 61 for support and movement. The rods 59 and 61 are in turn rigidly connected to the rod 62. The rod 62 is rigidly connected to the rod 68 which was depicted in FIG. 3. Actually the center baffle 55 can be driven transversely in a number of ways and in a preferred embodiment a pair of rocker arms (with mechanical linkage to rod 60) at each end of the center baffle 55 act to support and move the center baffle 55. The end plate 56 is secured to the tank 62 assembly by pair of arms, one arm 63 being shown in FIG. 5. The upper plate 64 and the lower plate 65 of the shroud are secured to the end plates (plate 63 and its counter part, not shown) by bolts in the threaded holes 66. Note that the end plate 56 is wide enough to cover the channels between the plates 11 and 12 as well as between the plates 13 and 14. The shroud, composed of the end plates 56, a second end plate not shown, and upper plates 64 and 65, is fabricated to provide a close fit with the center baffle and the plates 11, 12, I3 and 114 so that when the center baffle 55 is moved to the left in FIG. 4, the fluid 49 will be substantially moved through the plates 12 and 11 and of course through the channel in. between as depicted by the dash-dot arrows 67. If the shroud were not employed, the fluid 49 would partially follow a path depicted by the dashed arrows.68 and the reduction in pressure, caused thereby, interferes with a sharp transfer of the film and interferes with the agitation, It should be understood that the shroud fits within the tank so that there is fluid completely surrounding the end plates and the lower plate. Hence as fluid is forced through, for instance, the plates 12 and 11, it is returned around the outside of the shroud and through the plate 14 and then through the plate 13 toward the right side of the center baffle 55. This last described fluid motion enables the system to operate with a minimum amount of disruption from reflections or waves from the side walls of the tank. In addition the above described fluid motion insures good agitation of the fluid with respect to the film.

FIG. 6 depicts a driving means with an adjustable stroke which gives the system flexibility. For instance, certain type films need longer periods in a developer or a wash, etc. than other films. The period of stay" in the fluid can be regulated, or varied, by lengthening or shortening the stroke or travel of the plate for a given time.

In FIG. 6 there are shown some previously described members whose function is the same as the function previously described. For instance, the rods 60, 28 and 18 have the same function as the rods of the same identification in FIGS. 1 and 3 but they are driven differently. The cam 22 and the cam followers 32 and 2E have the same function as the members with similar identification in FIG. 1, except that the rods 79 and 80 which are driven have their respective motions translated to rods 18 and 28 respectively.

In FIG. 6 there is shown a drive means which drives the shaft 71. The drive means 70 can be any well known electric motor or other form of friction drive or geared mechanism used for the purpose of rotating a shaft. Secured to the shaft 71 are cam 72 and cam 22. Cam 72 rotates to move the cam followers 73 and 74. The cam followers 73 and 74 are secured to the rod 60 and with the aid of the slot 75 cause the rod 60 to move backward and forward. The rod 60 is used to move the agitator means, (whether it is the center baffle, a pair of outside bafiles, the tank or some other means), in synchronism with the rods 18 and 28. The role of cam 22 has already been discussed. The spring 75 is connected as shown to the rods 79 and 80 to cause the cam followers 21 and 32 to follow cam 22.

As can be seen in FIG. 6 there is an adjustment bar 77 slideably coupled to rod 79 and an adjustment bar 78 slideably coupled to rod 80. The adjustment bars 77 and 78 are further respectively coupled to feed drive rods 18 and 28, whose purpose has been explained above. However, because of the arrangement of the adjustment bars 77 and 78, the stroke of the drive bars 18 and 28 can be varied as will be explained immediately hereinafter.

As can be seem in FIG. 6, the adjustment bars 77 and 78 are mounted on rod 81 and each pivots independently thereupon. In other words when rod 80 moves to the left in FIG. 6, the rod 28 is moved to the right in response. The inner surfaces of the pivoting slides 82 and 83 are lined with some bearing material such as Nylon, or an aluminum bronze alloy which enables the pivoting and sliding action to take place. The pivoting slide 88 is rotatable around the stud 100, while the pivoting slides 82, 83 and 89 are similarly rotatable. Y

The two headed arrows indicate the rotatability of the pivoting slides.

The rod 79 drives the rod 18 with the same kind of action through the bar 77. As can be readily understood, if the length of bar 78 between rod 81 and rod 80 is lengthened themovement of rod 28 to the right, for a fixed movement of rod 80 to the left, will be shortened. This will enable a film to remain in the fluid for a longer period of time. If the length of bar 78 between rod 81 and rod 80 is shortened, the movement 'of rod 28 to the right, for a fixed movement of rod 80 will be increased, thus shortening the time of a film in the fluid. It should be apparent that the same behavior would be true for adjustments of the bar 77 In order to adjust bars 77 and 78 uniformly the yoke 84 is employed. Yoke 84 pivots around the rod 85. When the adjustment bolt 86, which rotatably fits into the sleeve 87, is threaded downward the rod 81 is forced downward. The rod 81 pulls simultaneously on both bars 77 and 78 to lengthen their distances between the rod 81 and respectively the rods 79 and 80. The yoke 84 aids the rod 81 in this simultaneous pull. If the bolt 86 is threaded upward the bars 77 and 78 are pulled upward through their pivoting slides 88 and 82 to shorten the distance between the rod 81 and the rods 79 and 80. The pivoting slides 89 and 83 enable the shaft 81 to move up and down without disturbing the plane of rods 18 and @9 and of course act as do the pivoting slides 88 and 82 to translate motion.

FlG. '7' depicts the feed roller mechanism. The plates 99 and 9f are respectively screwed to the rods 18 and 2% and therefore move with these rods. As can be determined from FIG. 7, each of the plates 90 and 91 respectively has a spring loaded cord 92 and 93 mounted thereon. The cord 92 is wrapped around the clutch 94, while the cord 93 is wrapped around the clutch 95. The clutch 94 and 95 are mounted on the shift 96 along with the spacers 97.

The clutches 9d and 95, in the preferred embodiment, are cup roller clutches of the kind which are manufactured by The Torrington Company of Torrington, Connecticut, however other types of clutch devices can be used. The cup roller clutches 94 and 95 clutch or lock to rotate the shaft 96 clockwise but operate out of phase. in other words, when rod 18 moved to the right, the plate 90 will move to the right and the cord 92, (which is wound taut around clutch 94) will rotate clutch 94 clockwise which in turn grabs or clutches the shaft 96 to rotate it clockwise. When the rod 18 moves to the left (it will be recalled that this is a quick movement), the clutch 94 is released and quickly returns, counterclockwise, to await the next movement of the rod 18 to the right. The foregoing movement is accomplished because the loop of the cord- 92 is formed to roll the clutch 94 clockwise in response to a right-hand movement of plate 90.

On the other hand when rod 28 moves to the left (which effects the forward movement of plates 12 and 14), the clutch 95 is rotated clockwise which enables it to clutch or lock shaft 96 so as to rotate it clockwise. When rod 28 is moved to the right (which is the quick return action previously described), cord93 acts to release the clutch 95 in a counterclockwise direction.

Sine the forward directions of rods 18 and 28 overlap, i.e., rod 18 is moving to the right before rod 28 completes its excursion to the left, it follows that the shaft 96 will be continually rotated clockwise and at a speed commensurate with the forward linear speed of the rods 18 and 28.

As can be seen in FIG. 7, there is a feed roller 98 which is secured to the shaft 96. The feed roller 98 moves clockwise with the shaft 96 and operates further in conjunction with an idler roller to provide the feed drive to the film entering the channels between the plates.

The foregoing described feeding system for film and the like has been found to provide for a better technique for developing film or feeding webbing material through a series of baths.

It should be understood that while the invention has been described in conjunction with a liquid type fluid it can be and is used with gaseous type fluids such as air, especially in the drying stage of a film developing process.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic material transport device for transporting webbing material through a processing fluid comprising in combination:

tank means to hold said processing fluid;

at least first and second perforated plates disposed to said webbing material is advanced;

ill

first mounting means mounting said first and second perforated plates to be located in said processing fluid and to be moved in first and second directions parallel to said channel;

driving means coupled to said mounting means to simultaneously move said first and second perforated plates in said first direction a distance less than the length of said first channel with one of said first and second perforated plates ahead of the other and to non-simultaneously move said first and second perforated plates in said second direction to be returned to their respective starting positions;

fluid moving means disposed to be in contact with said processing fluid to move said processing fluid transversely to said first channel and in synchronism with said first direction movement of said first and second perforated plates whereby said webbing material passing through said first channel will be forced alternately against said first and second perforated plates by the movement of said fluid to effect a movement of said webbing material in said first direction.

2. An automatic material transport device according to claim ll wherein there are further included third and fourth perforated plates disposed to form a second channel therebetween through which said webbing material is advanced;

second mounting means mounting said third and fourth perforated plates to be located in said processing fluid and to be moved in said first and second directions;

driving means coupled to said second mounting means to simultaneously move said third and fourth perforated plates in said second direction a distance less than the length of said second channel with one of said third and fourth perforated plates ahead of the other and to non-simultaneously move said third and fourth perforated plates in said first direction to be returned to their respective starting positions;

fluid moving means disposed to be in contact with said processing fluid to move said processing fluid transversely to said second channel and in sychronism with said second direction movement of said third and fourth perforated plates whereby said webbing material passing through said second channel will be forced alternately against said third and fourth perforated plates by the movement of said fluid to effect a movement of said webbing material in said second direction; and

turnaround means to guide said webbing material leaving said first channel into said second channel.

3. An automatic material transport device according to claim 2 wherein said turnaround means includes a plurality of U-shaped rods, said first U-shaped rods secured together to form an outer member of a third channel, said second U-shaped rods secured together to form an inner member of said third channel, said third channel disposed to connect said first and second channels.

4. An automatic material transport device according to claim 3 wherein said U-shaped rods have upper ends that are bent outward away from said third channel and wherein said first, second, third and fourth perforated plates each have a plurality of notches therein with each notch disposed to fit over a different one of the upper ends of said U-shaped rods whereby said webbing means is urged into and from said third channel without bumping into said U-shaped rods.

5. An automatic material transport device according to claim 1 wherein said fluid moving means includes at least one baffle disposed with said tank and a means for moving said one baffle substantially orthogonal with respect to said first channel.

6. An automatic material transport device according to claim 1 wherein said fluid moving means includes first and second baffles disposed on opposite sides of said first channel and within said tank means and further including means coupled to said first and second baffles to move said first and second baffles substantially orthogonal to said first channel.

7. An automatic material transport device according to claim 1 wherein said fluid moving means includes means coupled to said tank means to move said tank means orthogonal to said first channel.

8. An automatic material transport device according to claim 1 wherein said fluid moving means is disposed within a shroud means whereby virtually all of the fluid moved by said fluid moving means follows a path through said perforated plates.

9. An automatic material transport device according to claim 1 wherein said driving means includes means to adjust the distance which said first and second perforated plates are moved prior to their being returned to their starting position whereby the time that said webbing material is in said processing fluid can be varied.

10. An automatic material transport device according. to claim 1 wherein there is further included webbing material feeding means coupled to said driving means to be moved in synchronism with the movement of said first and second perforated plates.

1 1. An automatic material transport device for transporting webbing material through a processing fluid comprising in combination:

tank means tohold said processing fluid;

at least first and second perforated plates disposed to form a first channel therebetween through which said webbing material is advanced;

first mounting means mounting said first and second perforated plates to be located in said processing fluid and to be moved in first and second directions parallel to said channel;

driving means coupled to said mounting means to simultaneously move said first and second perforated plates in said first direction a distance less than the length of said first channel with one of said first and second perforated plates ahead of the other and to non-simultaneously move said first and second perforated plates in said second direction to be returned to their respective starting positions;

means for transferring said webbing material so as to be forced alternatively against said first and second perforated plates by effecting a relative movement of said fluid transversely between said plates. 

1. An automatic material transport device for transporting webbing material through a processing fluid comprising in combination: tank means to hold said processIng fluid; at least first and second perforated plates disposed to form a first channel therebetween through which said webbing material is advanced; first mounting means mounting said first and second perforated plates to be located in said processing fluid and to be moved in first and second directions parallel to said channel; driving means coupled to said mounting means to simultaneously move said first and second perforated plates in said first direction a distance less than the length of said first channel with one of said first and second perforated plates ahead of the other and to non-simultaneously move said first and second perforated plates in said second direction to be returned to their respective starting positions; fluid moving means disposed to be in contact with said processing fluid to move said processing fluid transversely to said first channel and in synchronism with said first direction movement of said first and second perforated plates whereby said webbing material passing through said first channel will be forced alternately against said first and second perforated plates by the movement of said fluid to effect a movement of said webbing material in said first direction.
 1. An automatic material transport device for transporting webbing material through a processing fluid comprising in combination: tank means to hold said processIng fluid; at least first and second perforated plates disposed to form a first channel therebetween through which said webbing material is advanced; first mounting means mounting said first and second perforated plates to be located in said processing fluid and to be moved in first and second directions parallel to said channel; driving means coupled to said mounting means to simultaneously move said first and second perforated plates in said first direction a distance less than the length of said first channel with one of said first and second perforated plates ahead of the other and to non-simultaneously move said first and second perforated plates in said second direction to be returned to their respective starting positions; fluid moving means disposed to be in contact with said processing fluid to move said processing fluid transversely to said first channel and in synchronism with said first direction movement of said first and second perforated plates whereby said webbing material passing through said first channel will be forced alternately against said first and second perforated plates by the movement of said fluid to effect a movement of said webbing material in said first direction.
 2. An automatic material transport device according to claim 1 wherein there are further included third and fourth perforated plates disposed to form a second channel therebetween through which said webbing material is advanced; second mounting means mounting said third and fourth perforated plates to be located in said processing fluid and to be moved in said first and second directions; driving means coupled to said second mounting means to simultaneously move said third and fourth perforated plates in said second direction a distance less than the length of said second channel with one of said third and fourth perforated plates ahead of the other and to non-simultaneously move said third and fourth perforated plates in said first direction to be returned to their respective starting positions; fluid moving means disposed to be in contact with said processing fluid to move said processing fluid transversely to said second channel and in sychronism with said second direction movement of said third and fourth perforated plates whereby said webbing material passing through said second channel will be forced alternately against said third and fourth perforated plates by the movement of said fluid to effect a movement of said webbing material in said second direction; and turnaround means to guide said webbing material leaving said first channel into said second channel.
 3. An automatic material transport device according to claim 2 wherein said turnaround means includes a plurality of U-shaped rods, said first U-shaped rods secured together to form an outer member of a third channel, said second U-shaped rods secured together to form an inner member of said third channel, said third channel disposed to connect said first and second channels.
 4. An automatic material transport device according to claim 3 wherein said U-shaped rods have upper ends that are bent outward away from said third channel and wherein said first, second, third and fourth perforated plates each have a plurality of notches therein with each notch disposed to fit over a different one of the upper ends of said U-shaped rods whereby said webbing means is urged into and from said third channel without bumping into said U-shaped rods.
 5. An automatic material transport device according to claim 1 wherein said fluid moving means includes at least one baffle disposed with said tank and a means for moving said one baffle substantially orthogonal with respect to said first channel.
 6. An automatic material transport device according to claim 1 wherein said fluid moving means includes first and second baffles disposed on opposite sides of said first channel and within said tank means and further including means coupled to said first and second baffles to move said first and second baffles substantially orthogonal to said first channel.
 7. An automatic material transport device according to claim 1 wherein said fluid moving means includes means coupled to said tank means to move said tank means orthogonal to said first channel.
 8. An automatic material transport device according to claim 1 wherein said fluid moving means is disposed within a shroud means whereby virtually all of the fluid moved by said fluid moving means follows a path through said perforated plates.
 9. An automatic material transport device according to claim 1 wherein said driving means includes means to adjust the distance which said first and second perforated plates are moved prior to their being returned to their starting position whereby the time that said webbing material is in said processing fluid can be varied.
 10. An automatic material transport device according to claim 1 wherein there is further included webbing material feeding means coupled to said driving means to be moved in synchronism with the movement of said first and second perforated plates. 